Epoch HealthCOVID Spike Proteins Help Cancer Cells Survive, Resist Chemotherapy: Brown University Preprint Paper

Implications of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Proteins on Cancer Cell Survival and Response to Chemotherapy

A recent preprint study from Brown University, led by Dr. Wafik El-Deiry, director of the Cancer Center, sheds light on the potential role of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein subunits in cancer cell dynamics. The research explores how spike protein S2 subunits may interfere with the p53 cancer suppressor gene, affecting cancer cell survival and response to chemotherapy. This study contributes to a growing body of research examining the complex interactions between viral infections and cancer cell biology.

Key Points:

• Spike Protein and Cancer Cell Growth: The S2 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein potentially promotes cancer cell survival by blocking the p53 gene, a key suppressor of cancer growth and promoter of DNA repair.
• Chemotherapy Resistance: Cancer cells exposed to the spike S2 subunit demonstrated increased survival rates when treated with chemotherapy, suggesting that the spike protein may help cancer cells resist standard treatments.
• Cell Line Experiments: The study tested the effects of the spike S2 subunit on several human cancer cell lines, including lung, breast, colorectal, and sarcoma, all modified to carry normal p53 genes.
• Reduced p53 Activity: In the presence of the spike S2 subunit, researchers observed reduced activity of the p53 gene, which is crucial for the activation of cancer cell death mechanisms.
• Broader Implications for Therapeutics: The findings raise questions about the potential cancer-promoting effects of SARS-CoV-2 and its components, including those derived from mRNA and protein vaccines.
• Study Limitations: Dr. El-Deiry acknowledges the limitations of the study, noting that it was conducted in simple cell culture and that further research is needed to understand the full implications of spike protein interactions.
• Future Research Needs: Additional studies, including animal models, are necessary to more thoroughly evaluate cancer susceptibility to spike protein interference and to explore the behaviors of normal cell types in response to different spike variants.

“Our goal was to study spike protein regardless of its origin. We focused on spike that may come from infection or any other way it can be expressed in human cells … this would also apply to vaccine-made spike.”
– Dr. Wafik El-Deiry, Director of the Cancer Center at Brown University

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